Nearby Theaters

The Jefferson Theatre opened in 1913 as a B.F. Keith’s vaudeville theater in what is now known as the edge of the East Village. Later the RKO Jefferson Theatre, this theater was located at 214 E. 14th Street near Third Avenue. The entrance was a narrow space between two tenement houses with the bulk of the theatre (auditorium) located in 13th Street.

The RKO Jefferson Theatre operated until at least 1977. It lay empty for over two decades and was demolished in 2000. Today, the site is filled with bricks and debris from the demolition and the old Jefferson Theatre has passed on.

I just uploaded a photo I shot of the Jefferson shortly before it was demolished. I may have a better shot and will look for it to post. I would love to see a photo of the marquis in full bloom if somebody has one.

Go to the comments section with a posting by Warren G. Harris on May 4, 2008 which has links to photos of a functioning RKO Jefferson. Also read Warren’s comments elsewhere about the Billy Rose Collection.

An article in The New York Times of January 19, 1913, describes the Jefferson Theatre and Hamilton Theatre (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1353), which opened on the 23rd and 25th, respectively. Of the Jefferson, it reports: “A life-sized bust of Thomas Jefferson adorns the main entrance.…A large mural painting over the sounding board shows Thomas Jefferson addressing an assemblage of people of his time.”

“Two New Theatres,” col. 6, The New York Times, January 19, 1913.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E0DE1D6123BE633A2575AC1A9679C946296D6CF

There must have been more than one “life-size bust” because the one that I have – here in my possession that I removed from the brick rubble back when it was demolished – is definitely not Thomas Jefferson. It might be Joseph Jefferson but it’s definitely not Thomas Jefferson. I’ll try to upload a pic today. Pretty fun conversation on this old theater! I miss the neighborhood.